Football Throwing System and Method of Operation

ABSTRACT

Described is an automated football throwing system and method of operation thereof. The system comprises a route input system, a launch controller, and a football throwing device. In operation, a user inputs the route desired to be executed. The processor accesses a visual illustration of the route from the storage media and displays the visual illustration on a display. Additionally, the data retrieval system accesses data regarding the launch variables which may include the lateral orientation, angle of elevation, and output speed corresponding to a selected route. The launch controller adjusts the football throwing device in accordance with the launch variables for the specific route. The football throwing device comprises a pair of coacting wheels adapted to propel a football and separated by a space in which a football may be inserted. A loading mechanism moves a football received from a storage receptacle into the space between the coacting wheels.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/812,581 filed on Apr. 16, 2013, entitled “Football Quarterback Machine.” The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a football throwing system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a football throwing system comprising a route input system, a launch controller, and a football throwing device. A user can input a specific route, and the processor will retrieve data corresponding to said route from a storage media. The data includes a visual representation of the route which is sent to a display. Additionally, the football throwing device is adjusted by a launch controller in accordance with the launch variables corresponding to the specific route inputted by the user. Once adjusted into the proper configuration, one or more footballs may be thrown in succession by the football throwing device.

Sports teams commonly utilize automated throwing machines during practice. Such devices are useful in simulating a thrown football which allows receivers to practice catching the ball. Otherwise, a quarterback would have to continually throw passes to the receivers during practice which may result in the quarterback suffering a strained arm or other injury. Further, the quarterback may not be able to accurately throw a series of passes and may become fatigued after throwing several passes in succession. Typical football throwing machines solve the problem of relying on a quarterback to throw passes, but traditional football throwing machines have limited capabilities and must be manually controlled by a coach or assistant in order to launch the footballs. Tasked with operating the machine, the coach is prevented from being actively involved in practice. Thus, a device that does not require a coach or other person to stand idly by and operate the football throwing device is desired.

The present invention discloses a football throwing system comprising a route input means, a launch controller, and a football throwing device. In operation, a player inputs the route that the player wishes to practice, and the launch controller adjusts the launch variables of the football throwing device in accordance with the route selected by the player. The route input system comprises a user input means, a central processing unit, a main memory, a storage media, and a display. The display demonstrates the route that the receiver is supposed to run, and the route displayed corresponds to the user's input. Further, the storage media comprises data corresponding to the launch variables of the football throwing device for each route. The football throwing device comprises a pair of coacting wheels adapted to propel a football, a storage receptacle for holding footballs, and a loading mechanism for moving the footballs from the storage receptacle to the coacting wheels. The football throwing device further comprises an adjustable support adapted to allow footballs to be thrown at various angles and in various directions.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to football throwing machines. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to football throwing devices having a pair of coacting wheels. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,261 to Paulson et al. entitled “Coacting Wheels Type Football Throwing Device” discloses a device adapted to throw a football in either the manner of a forward pass or an end-over-end kick-off. The device comprises a pair of driven members, such as wheels, which both move in a forward direction. To launch the football in the style of a forward pass, the wheels are aligned in different planes so as form an acute angle between the two planes. To launch the football in the style of a kick-off, the wheels are aligned in the same plane. Paulson et al. does not disclose a football throwing device having a processor and a means for automatically adjusting the launch variables of the device. Further, Paulson et al. does not disclose a user input system.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,591 to Paulson entitled “Adjustable Ball Projecting Device” discloses a ball throwing device that is adjustable so as to accommodate balls of different diameters. The device allows for adjustment of the spacing between a pair of wheels adapted to launch a ball, and also allows for adjustment of the width of a chute that feeds the balls to the wheels. Paulson does not disclose a system for automatically adjusting the launch variables of a football throwing device, nor does Paulson disclose a football throwing device having a user input system.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,230 to Griffith entitled “Football Throwing Machine” discloses a football throwing device having two counter-rotating wheels spaced such that a football can be fed into the space between them. The amount of spin on the ball can be regulated by varying the amount of skew between the axis of rotation of each wheel. A controlled automatic feed allows footballs to be thrown in a series. A rotating turret is mounted on top of the mechanism which holds several cylinders in which footballs can be placed. Griffith does not describe a football throwing system having a means for accepting user input, and that automatically adjusts the device in accordance with a user's input.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,532 to Osojnak entitled “Football Throwing Machine” discloses a machine adapted throw footballs by means of a pair of spinning wheels. A football loading device is disclosed that comprises a magazine with clamps adapted for holding footballs in a predetermined alignment. An operation station is further provided that allows the operator to control the function of the machine without having to manually load or otherwise touch the footballs. Osojnak does not provide a system that accepts user input, and requires an operator to control the function of the machine.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,003 to Gavieres entitled “Football Throwing System” discloses a football throwing machine also having a receiving assembly. The receiving assembly has conveyor drives within the receiving assembly housing which lift the football towards a top end of the housing, and a plurality of wheel assemblies mounted to the housing propel the football out of the machine. Gavieres focuses on the receiving assembly of the invention, and does not disclose a system for automatically adjusting the orientation or speed of the machine based upon the input of a user.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,176,905 to Fenley entitled “Football Throwing Machine” discloses an axially aligned compression spring for propulsion of a football and a latching mechanism for retaining the spring in its compressed position. The football is held by a plurality of axially misaligned wheels that create a helical spinning effect similar to that of a forward pass. Fenley does not disclose a football throwing system that is automated and that can adjust its orientation based upon input from the user.

These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. In order to operate a traditional football throwing device, a user must operate or supervise the device by feeding balls into the propulsion mechanism. Further, the user must reposition and reorient the device in order for the football to be thrown at different angles and trajectories. This limits the availability of the operator, generally a football coach, to engage in other activities and more actively participate in a football practice.

In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing football throwing devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of football throwing systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new football throwing system wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when throwing a series of footballs using a football throwing machine.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved football throwing system that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a football throwing system that can be operated without close supervision by a coach, so that the coach is free to more actively participate in football practice.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a football throwing system that automatically adjusts so as to throw the football in accordance with the route selected by a user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a football throwing system that can throw a series of footballs without the need for an operator to manually load footballs into the football throwing device.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a football throwing system that displays a visual representation of the route selected by the user so as to enable the user to visualize the pattern to be executed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a football throwing system that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic of the operation of the football throwing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of the data retrieval system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the football throwing device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the football throwing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the loading bay and loading mechanism of the football throwing device.

FIG. 6 shows a view of a graphic user interface on the display.

FIG. 7 shows a view of a visual representation of a route on the display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the football throwing system. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for automatically adjusting a football throwing device in accordance with a route selected by a user. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

The football throwing system of the present invention comprises a route input system, a launch controller, and a football throwing device. The route input system receives user input corresponding to a particular route, processes the input, retrieves data regarding the selected route from a storage media, and outputs said data to the display and to the launch controller. The launch controller receives the launch variables from the route input system and adjusts the football throwing device in accordance with the launch variables for the particular route selected. The football throwing device provides a means for storing footballs and feeding those footballs to a pair of coacting wheels which serve as the means for propelling the footballs from the device.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic representation of the operation of the route input system of the football throwing system of the present invention. The route input system 11 comprises a user input means 12, a central processing unit 13, a main memory 15, a storage media 14, and a display 17. The user input means 12 allows a user to select a route from a pre-set list of routes, and may include a touch-screen display, a remote control unit, or an input terminal positioned on the football throwing device.

Once a user selects a route, the data retrieval system 18 comprising the central processing unit 13, storage media 14, and main memory 15 retrieves data from the storage media 14 corresponding to the selected route. The data corresponding to each route includes a set of launch variables and a visual representation of the selected route. The visual representation is output on a display 17, while the launch variables are transmitted to the launch controller 16. The launch controller 16 adjusts the football throwing device in accordance with the launch variables corresponding to the particular route selected by the user. Once the proper adjustments have been made, the launch controller may automatically signal the football throwing device to retrieve a football from the storage receptacle, and activate the loading mechanism such that a football will be thrown. Alternatively, after selecting a route the user may be required to enter an additional input signaling that the player is ready to begin executing the route. The additional input would be communicated to the launch controller, which would then signal the football throwing device to retrieve a football from the storage receptacle and activate the loading mechanism.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a diagram of how the data retrieval system operates. The storage media of the data retrieval system 18 contains a database of routes and each route's corresponding visual representation 20 and launch variables 19. Each route has a pre-determined set of launch variables which describe the configuration and operation of the football throwing device. Launch variables 19 include but are not limited to the lateral orientation of the device, the angle of elevation of the device, and the output speed of the device. For example, for a route such as a streak route in which a player is tasked with running straight down the field, the launch variables may include a high output speed so that the ball will be propelled a sufficient distance, and an increased angle of elevation so that the ball has a lofting trajectory.

The launch variables retrieved from the storage media are then communicated to the launch controller 16 which controls the mechanical components responsible for configuring the football throwing device. Additionally, the visual representation 20 retrieved by the data retrieval system 18 is output onto a display 17.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a front view of the football throwing device of the present invention. The football throwing device 21 comprises a pair of coacting, spinning wheels 22 which are adapted to propel a football 30. The wheels 22 are separated by a space 23 in which a football can be inserted. One wheel spins clockwise, while the other spins counterclockwise so that the wheels create forward propulsion for a football placed in the space 23 between the wheels. Various devices may be used to cause the wheels to spin. An electrical motor may be used to rotate the wheels, or a pneumatic or hydraulic system. One motor may be used to power both wheels, in which case both wheels are able to spin at the same speed.

In order for the football throwing device to throw a football in the manner of a forward pass, that is where the football is spinning about its longitudinal axis, the spinning wheels must impart such spin upon the football. No spin along the longitudinal axis of the football is imparted wherein both wheels are arranged in the same plane. However, by offsetting the wheels such that the wheels lie in different planes, spin along the longitudinal axis of the football can be imparted. Thus, the spinning wheels are adjustable so as to allow a user to configure the wheels such that the desired amount of spin is achieved.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a frontal view of the football throwing device. The football throwing device 21, includes an adjustable support 28 positioned underneath the loading bay 24. The adjustable support 28 is adapted to adjust the angle of elevation of the throwing assembly and also the lateral orientation of the throwing assembly. The adjustable support 28 allows for adjustment of the lateral orientation of the device by providing rotation about a vertical axis such that a ball can be thrown to the left, right, or central portion of a field. The adjustable support 28 allows for adjustment of the angle of elevation and allows for the loading bay 24 of the device to tilt about a horizontal axis so as to throw the football in a lofting trajectory, or so as to throw the football in a straight line. The adjustable assembly constrains the angle of elevation such that the football may only be thrown in a plane parallel to the ground, or at an angle above said parallel plane. In this way, the football throwing device is not able to throw a football downward towards the ground. Hydraulic or pneumatic systems may be used to provide the means by which the angle of elevation and lateral orientation of the throwing assembly may be adjusted. Alternatively, one or more electric motors may be used to allow for adjustment of the adjustable support. The adjustable support is disposed on a plurality of legs 29. The legs 29 provide a stable support for the football throwing device and support the football throwing device at an elevated position above the ground.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of the loading bay and loading mechanism of the present invention. A loading bay 24 is adapted to receive a football 30 from a storage receptacle 25 and provides a surface on which a football 30 can rest until the football is brought into connection with the spinning wheels 22. The loading bay 24 has a concave channel on its upper surface such that a football 30 can rest in the loading bay without the risk of falling off of the sides of loading bay. Further, the concave channel helps to direct the footballs toward the middle of the loading bay allowing for proper entry into the space between the coacting wheels. A football is positioned on the loading bay along its longitudinal axis, such that a pointed end of a football is directed towards the space 23 between the spinning wheels.

The loading mechanism 26 is positioned on the upper surface of the loading bay 24, and comprises a cup element 27 adapted to receive a pointed end of the football 30. The loading mechanism 26 is adapted to push the football forward along the length of the loading bay 24 towards the space 23 between the coacting wheels 22. The loading mechanism may comprise a linearly reciprocating device adapted to achieve this purpose. Alternatively, the loading mechanism may be spring-loaded so as to propel the football forward into contact with the spinning wheels 22.

The storage receptacle 25 is adapted to hold a plurality of footballs, and the storage receptacle is used to supply footballs into the loading bay 24 so that footballs can be thrown in succession without the need for a user to have to continually load a football into the loading bay prior to each throw. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the storage receptacle comprises a channel and wall members so that a series of footballs can be arranged end-to-end therein. Once a first football is moved from the storage receptacle to the loading bay, the next football in the storage receptacle is moved into position so that it may be moved to the loading bay once the first football has been launched. A movable divider may be positioned within the storage receptacle that functions to push the line of footballs forward and toward the loading bay. The movable divider may be mechanically operated so as to push the series of footballs forward once a first football is loaded into the loading bay. Once a football is thrown, the next football may be retrieved from the storage receptacle after a pre-set period of time so that footballs are launched periodically. Alternatively, once a football is thrown, the next football may be retrieved from the storage receptacle only after a user enters an additional input signaling that the user is ready for a football to be thrown.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a graphical user interface on the display of the football throwing system of the present invention. A graphical user interface (GUI) 31 is projected on the display. The GUI provides the user with a list of pre-set routes 32. An indicator 33 may be displayed on the screen to allow the user to manipulate the input means and select a route from the list provided on the GUI. Once the user selects a route, the data retrieval system accesses the data corresponding to that route. The storage media contains a database of routes and the launch variables and visual representation for each route. Each route has a particular set of launch variables, such as the lateral orientation of the football throwing device, the angle of elevation of the football throwing device, and the output speed of the football throwing device. The visual representation for the route selected is output onto the display. Additionally, the launch variables are transmitted to the launch controller so that the launch controller may make the appropriate adjustments to the football throwing device.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a visual representation of a route on the display of the present invention. Once a user selects a route 35, the name of the route is displayed on the screen to inform the player as to the route being demonstrated, and the visual illustration 34 of that route is projected on the display. This enables the player that is going to run the route to visualize how the route should be executed. The visual illustration may comprise an arrow 38 superimposed onto a football field indicating the direction or pattern of the route, and any turns or cuts the user should make throughout the course of the route. The visual illustration may further include a recording of a player 37 running the selected route to better enable the player to understand how the route is to be executed. By selecting a route, the football throwing machine is automatically adjusted so that the system will deliver a football to the location the player should reach after successfully executing the selected route.

Since the player may want some time to review the visual representation of the route prior to attempting to run the route, the user may be required to provide an additional input into the system. For example, the user may be required to press a “Start” button 36 on a touch-screen display before running the selected route. Alternatively, a countdown timer may be provided that gives the user a pre-set amount of time to review the route displayed on the display, and once the timer expires the user must begin executing the route. A menu or return button may also be included to allow a user to return to the list of routes to be executed, so as to allow the user to select a new route to practice.

Football throwing devices are well known in the art, but such devices require an operator to feed balls into the device, adjust the launch variables of the device, or both. Since the operator must closely supervise the operation of the football throwing device, the operator is unable to engage in other activities. The operator, generally a football coach, may wish to more actively participate in a football practice. Thus, a football throwing device that does not require close supervision by an operation would be desirable.

The present invention provides a football throwing system comprising a route input system, a launch controller, and a football throwing device. The route input system allows a user to select a route from a list of routes, and the launch controller adjusts the football throwing device in accordance with the route selected by the user. The system also provides a display on which a visual illustration of the route selected is displayed. In this way, an operator is not required to supervise the operation of the football throwing device, and a player is able to visualize the route to be executed.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) An automated football throwing system, comprising: a route input system comprising a central processing unit, a main memory, a storage media, a display, and a user input means; a launch controller comprising at least one launch variable; a football throwing device comprising: a storage receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of footballs; a loading bay adapted to hold a football received from said storage receptacle; a pair of coacting wheels adapted to propel a football wherein said pair of coacting wheels is separated by a space; a loading mechanism adapted to move a football placed in said loading bay into said space between said pair of coacting wheels; and an adjustable support connected to said loading bay that is adapted to adjust the positioning of the device. 2) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein a launch variable defines the lateral orientation of said football throwing device. 3) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein a launch variable defines the angle of elevation of said football throwing device. 4) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein a launch variable defines the output speed of said football throwing device. 5) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein said user input means comprises a remote control device. 6) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein said user input means comprises a touch screen display. 7) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein said storage media comprises a database of routes and one or more launch variables corresponding to said routes. 8) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein said processing unit accesses data in said storage media corresponding to user input, and communicates said data regarding the lateral orientation, angle of elevation, and output speed to said launch controller. 9) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein said adjustable support is adapted to adjust said football throwing device by means of one or more pneumatic systems. 10) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein said adjustable support is adapted to adjust said football throwing device by means of one or more hydraulic systems. 11) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein said adjustable support is adapted to adjust said football throwing device by means of one or more electric motors. 12) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein said loading mechanism comprises a linearly reciprocating device adapted to move a football located in said loading bay into said space between said pair of coacting wheels. 13) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein said loading bay has a concave upper surface. 14) The football throwing system of claim 1, wherein said storage receptacle is further adapted to feed one or more footballs into said loading bay. 15) A method for operating an automated football throwing system, comprising the steps of: receiving user input corresponding to a specific route; accessing a visual representation of said specific route from a storage media, and displaying said visual representation on a display; accessing data on said storage media regarding one or more launch variables corresponding to said specific route; transmitting said data to a launch controller; adjusting at least one launch variable; and propelling a football from a football throwing device. 16) The method of claim 15, wherein the step of propelling a football from a football throwing device comprises the steps of: retrieving a football from a storage receptacle; moving said football towards a pair of spinning, coacting wheels by means of a loading mechanism; and contacting said football with a pair of spinning, coacting wheels adapted to propel a football. 17) The method of claim 15, wherein one of said one or more launch variables defines the lateral orientation of said football throwing device. 18) The method of claim 15, wherein one of said one or more launch variables defines the angle of elevation of said football throwing device. 19) The method of claim 15, wherein one of said one or more launch variables defines the output speed of said football throwing device. 